Flappers: Drawing influence from movies, radio shows, popular advertising, and magazines; the youth of the 1920s developed a look and personality different from any previous generation. The youths during this time began to emulate famous stars of their time, whether it were sports to movies. Some negative traits that were shown by the youth in this time were smoking, bad language, selfishness, and immorality. Some defining style characteristics of flappers were:
short bobbed/shingled hair
straight loose knee-length dresses
dropped waistline
heavy makeup
silk/rayon stockings with garters
long beaded necklaces
The earliest movies started in the 1920s as silent films, usually accompanied by piano or organ. In 1923 the first film with a synchronized soundtrack was released. By 1927 Hollywood became the center of film making and over 85% of movies were made there.
Nickelodeons- Nickelodeons were the first movie theaters that were very basic compared to now a days. The Nickelodeons featured movies and entertainment of all kinds including news reels and silent films.
Some famous movies from the 1920s were:
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Nosferatu
The Ten Commandments
Dante's Inferno
The Phantom of the Opera
Wings
Plane Crazy
In the mid-1920's, a new form of music was beginning to become a popular part of entertainment and society. This music was jazz. At first, jazz was thought by many to be "the Devil's music", but as time went on jazz progressed into one of the most popular genres of music. Public dance halls, clubs, and tearooms opened throughout cities and featured ragtime and jazz music primarily.
the first radio stations went on air in 1920
WWJ in Detroit
KDKA 1020 AM in Chicago
stations broadcasted news coverage, election results, presendtial speaches, and of course music
Louis Armstrong- Born in 1901, Louis Armstrong came to fame in the 1920's as an inventive cornet and trumpet player. Armstrong was the main force that shifted music's focus from group performances to single musicians. Armstrong was also known for his easily distinguishable raspy and deep voice and his remarkable improvisation skills and scatting. Armstrong is today the face of jazz music and his music is still very well known and popularly used.
A picture of Louis Armstrong. Short-haired black man in his fifties blowing into a trumpet. He is wearing a light-colored sport coat, a white shirt and a bow tie. He is faced left with his eyes looking upwards. His right hand is fingering the trumpet, with the index finger down and three fingers pointing upwards. The man's left hand is mostly covered with a handkerchief and it has a shining ring on the little finger. He is wearing a wristwatch on the left wrist.
Politics
The Red Scare- Following the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 in Russia, the U.S. went into a period of anti-Communism and fear of a domestic worker/socialist revolution as well. Newspapers and other press forms portrayed any type of worker or union strike as a radical socialist movement that could potentially harm the American society. This turned the fear into more of a xenophobia for many Americans. The New York Times reported that 650 people were arrested for suspicion of communist behavior.
The 18th Amendment- The 18th amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1919 and was in effect throughout the 1920's. This amendment prohibited the making, selling, consumption, and possession of any alcoholic beverage. This amendment influenced the opening of secret liquor-selling establishments known as speakeasy's. Also, this amendment brought about a lot of organized crime and gangsters whose industries revolved around the distribution of alcohol. Al Capone- One of the most famous criminals of this era was Al Capone. Capone was an American gangster who led a prohibition crime syndicate known as "the Capones". The groups main focus was bootlegging and smuggling liquor in Chicago. Capone's reign ended when he was arrested and incarcerated for tax evasion. In 1947, Capone died of cardiac arrest after suffering from a stroke.
Immigration Act of 1924- This act placed many restrictions on immigration into the U.S. and set a quota on the number of people allowed to immigrate to America. This act was mainly directed to Asian immigrants, but did effect all types of immigrants.
The Scopes Trial- In 1925, John Scopes, a high-school biology teacher in Dayton, Tennessee, was put on trial for teaching the theory of evolution to his students. William Jennings Bryan, 3-time Presedential candidate, argued for the prosecution and the famous defence attorney Clarence Darrow defended Scopes. Fundamentalist- Fundementalists during this time were the people who strongly stuck to the word of the Bible and the word of God. The fundamentalist movement was started mainly by the Protestants of the U.S. Most fundamentalists were strictly against the teaching of evolution since it went against the bible and religion.
The Roaring 20's
Styles and Entertainment
Flappers: Drawing influence from movies, radio shows, popular advertising, and magazines; the youth of the 1920s developed a look and personality different from any previous generation. The youths during this time began to emulate famous stars of their time, whether it were sports to movies. Some negative traits that were shown by the youth in this time were smoking, bad language, selfishness, and immorality. Some defining style characteristics of flappers were:
The earliest movies started in the 1920s as silent films, usually accompanied by piano or organ. In 1923 the first film with a synchronized soundtrack was released. By 1927 Hollywood became the center of film making and over 85% of movies were made there.
Nickelodeons- Nickelodeons were the first movie theaters that were very basic compared to now a days. The Nickelodeons featured movies and entertainment of all kinds including news reels and silent films.
Some famous movies from the 1920s were:
In the mid-1920's, a new form of music was beginning to become a popular part of entertainment and society. This music was jazz. At first, jazz was thought by many to be "the Devil's music", but as time went on jazz progressed into one of the most popular genres of music. Public dance halls, clubs, and tearooms opened throughout cities and featured ragtime and jazz music primarily.
Louis Armstrong- Born in 1901, Louis Armstrong came to fame in the 1920's as an inventive cornet and trumpet player. Armstrong was the main force that shifted music's focus from group performances to single musicians. Armstrong was also known for his easily distinguishable raspy and deep voice and his remarkable improvisation skills and scatting. Armstrong is today the face of jazz music and his music is still very well known and popularly used.
Politics
The Red Scare- Following the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 in Russia, the U.S. went into a period of anti-Communism and fear of a domestic worker/socialist revolution as well. Newspapers and other press forms portrayed any type of worker or union strike as a radical socialist movement that could potentially harm the American society. This turned the fear into more of a xenophobia for many Americans. The New York Times reported that 650 people were arrested for suspicion of communist behavior.
The 18th Amendment- The 18th amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1919 and was in effect throughout the 1920's. This amendment prohibited the making, selling, consumption, and possession of any alcoholic beverage. This amendment influenced the opening of secret liquor-selling establishments known as speakeasy's. Also, this amendment brought about a lot of organized crime and gangsters whose industries revolved around the distribution of alcohol.
Al Capone- One of the most famous criminals of this era was Al Capone. Capone was an American gangster who led a prohibition crime syndicate known as "the Capones". The groups main focus was bootlegging and smuggling liquor in Chicago. Capone's reign ended when he was arrested and incarcerated for tax evasion. In 1947, Capone died of cardiac arrest after suffering from a stroke.
Immigration Act of 1924- This act placed many restrictions on immigration into the U.S. and set a quota on the number of people allowed to immigrate to America. This act was mainly directed to Asian immigrants, but did effect all types of immigrants.
The Scopes Trial- In 1925, John Scopes, a high-school biology teacher in Dayton, Tennessee, was put on trial for teaching the theory of evolution to his students. William Jennings Bryan, 3-time Presedential candidate, argued for the prosecution and the famous defence attorney Clarence Darrow defended Scopes.
Fundamentalist- Fundementalists during this time were the people who strongly stuck to the word of the Bible and the word of God. The fundamentalist movement was started mainly by the Protestants of the U.S. Most fundamentalists were strictly against the teaching of evolution since it went against the bible and religion.
Presidents of the '20s:
Helpful Websites:
http://www.1920-30.com